Road surface texture are deviations from a planar surface, affecting the vehicle/tyre interaction. Pavement texture is divided into:

• Microtexture
  Microtexture
  Microtexture is the collative term for a material's crystallographic parameters and other aspects of microstructure: such as morphology, including size and shape distributions; chemical composition; and crystal orientation and relationships...
  
   with wavelengths from 0 mm up to 0.5 mm
• Macrotexture
  Macrotexture
  Macrotexture is a family of wave-shaped road surface characteristics. While vehicle suspension deflection and dynamic tyre loads are affected by longer waves , road texture affects the interaction between the road surface and the tyre footprint. Macrotexture has wavelengths from 0.5 mm up to...
  
   with wavelengths from 0.5 mm up to 50 mm
• Megatexture (roads)
  Megatexture (roads)
  Megatexture is a family of wave-shaped road surface characteristics. While vehicle suspension deflection and dynamic tyre loads are affected by longer waves , road texture affects the interaction between the road surface and the tyre footprint. Megatexture has wavelengths from 50 mm up to 500 mm...
  
   with wavelengths from 50 mm up to 500 mm

Microtexture (MiTx) provides dry friction and is a desired road property.

Macrotexture (MaTx) is partly a desired property and partly an undesired property. Short MaTx waves, about 5 mm, acts as acoustical pores and reduce tyre/road noise. On the other hand, long wave MaTx increase noise. MaTx provide wet road friction, especially at high speeds. Excessive MaTx increase rolling resistance

Rolling resistance

Rolling resistance, sometimes called rolling friction or rolling drag, is the resistance that occurs when a round object such as a ball or tire rolls on a flat surface, in steady velocity straight line motion. It is caused mainly by the deformation of the object, the deformation of the surface, or...

 and thus fuel consumption and CO₂ emission contributing to global warming

Global warming

Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...

. Proper roads have MaTx of about 1 mm Mean Profile Depth.

Megatexture (MeTx) is pure road damage, causing noise and vibration. MeTx below 0.2 mm Root-Mean-Square is considered normal on proper roads.

MaTx and MeTx are measured with laser/inertial Profilograph

Profilograph

The profilograph is a device used to measure pavement surface roughness. In the early 20th century, Profilographs were low speed rolling devices. Today many Profilographs are advanced high speed systems with a laserbased height sensor in combination with a inertial system that creates a large...

s. Since MiTx has so short waves, it is preferably measured by dry friction brake tests rather than by profiling.

Profilographs that record texture in both left and right wheel paths can be used to identify road sections with hazardous Split friction

Split friction

A special road safety problem is Split friction or μ - split; when the friction significantly differs between the left and the right wheelpath. The road may then not be perceived as hazardous when accelerating, cruising or even braking softly. But in a case of hard braking, the car will start to...

.